News briefs for Jan. 9, 2003

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003 | 11:13 a.m.

Man killed by sniper is identified

A 42-year-old man shot and killed Wednesday morning by a rooftop sniper in downtown Las Vegas has been identified by Metro Police and the Clark County coroner as Bryan Ricks of Las Vegas.

A high-powered rifle was fired from an apartment building at 15th and Fremont streets, killing Ricks and sending another man to the hospital with a torso wound.

That man, Carl Capers, a 31-year-old whose hometown was not released by authorities, was upgraded from critical to serious condition at University Medical Center, a hospital spokesperson said. Capers was shot in the chest and initially was on life support.

Hospital officials said he was taken off life support around noon Wednesday and his condition was upgraded at that time. He remained in the intensive care unit this morning.

Metro Officer Sam Carrillo, who has been on the Metro force for 23 months, was struck in the hand from flying fragments during the shooting and was treated at the scene.

Police arrested Ricky Horne, 31, formerly of Pittsburgh, following the 3 a.m. incident that was followed by a three-hour standoff. He is being charged with attempted murder, attempted murder of a police officer and one charge of murder. He had a court hearing scheduled for this morning.

Horn told police he had been up all night drinking and doing drugs, police said. Horn allegedly told SWAT negotiators he had been in the area for three months and was upset that he could not find a job.

There were outstanding warrants for Horn's arrest in Pennsylvania, police said.

Candidates warned of report deadline

Secretary of State Dean Heller is reminding political candidates that Jan. 15 is the deadline for filing the third and final campaign contribution and expenditure report for the last election.

Others that must submit the information are Committees for Political Action, Ballot Advocacy Groups and political parties.

Those who file late face penalties that can accumulate up to $5,000.

Stealthy Raptors arrive at Nellis

The next generation of stealth fighter aircraft, the F/A-22 Raptor, has arrived at Nellis Air Force Base, military officials said.

The Raptor is expected to be the Air Force's premiere fighter, serving as a multirole aircraft. It is designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions.

A total of eight Raptors are slated for Nellis and will be flown by members of the Air Warfare Center's 53rd Wing.

U.S. citizen faces deportation

A naturalized U.S. citizen from El Salvador may have his citizenship revoked after being convicted Wednesday for making false statements in a naturalization document and fraudulently obtaining citizenship.

Melvin Marin, 25, was convicted by a jury in U.S. District Judge Lloyd George's courtroom, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11 when prosecutors are expected to ask that his citizenship be revoked.

Marin has lived in the United States since he was 2 years old, but according to court records Marin falsely stated in Immigration and Naturalization Service documents in November 1996 that he had never been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime.

However, in October 1996 Marin was arrested for discharging a firearm, according to court documents.

Sledders warned about snow melt

Current snow conditions in the Spring Mountains, including Mount Charleston, are extremely hazardous for sledders, the U.S. Forest Service warned.

Melting snow and unseasonably warm weather has exposed soil in the mountains.

The Forest Service advisory does not include the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort, which is capable of making snow.

For updated weather information, call 736-3854. For road conditions, call the Nevada Department of Transportation hotline at 486-3116.

Nellis Red Flag exercise canceled

The Red Flag exercise scheduled for this month at Nellis Air Force Base has been canceled due to deployments, Air Force officials said.

The exercise, one of four held every year at Nellis to train pilots, was canceled because the 68th Bomber Wing, the core group that was going to receive the training, has been deployed. The group is stationed at Seymore-Johnson Air Base in North Carolina.

Gov. Kenny Guinn

on Wednesday named Joseph Buckley of Las Vegas to the Employment of People with Disabilities Committee. Buckley, vice president of human resources for United Title of Nevada, succeeds Mary O'Donnell.